Esso Bermuda has stepped in to keep going a programme that gives children in less well-off families in Bermuda a new school backpack filled with school kit essentials.

Three hundred of the backpacks will be handed out over the coming days to children identified by around 20 charities on the Island.

The scheme is co-ordinated by the Christian relief organisation World Vision's Bermuda branch and the Women of Vision.

Last year the programme that helps Bermuda's children was unable to supply school bags because it could not find a sponsor within the corporate sector.

It was almost the same story this year until Esso Bermuda stepped in and offered its assistance to ensure that some of the most needy children on the Island got something new and useful to start the school term.

World Vision has been operating in Bermuda since the mid-1950s and has been supported by the people of the Island who have given money to help its work in some of the poorest communities of the world.

Alan Hunt, former executive director of World Vision, said the organisation was once able to deliver 1,000 of the backpacks but has not had the support to do so lately. It hopes that things will change and more corporate support will be forthcoming next year.

"We have 300 of the bags this year and we would like to double that next time. Through the sponsorship of Esso Bermuda it has been possible to provide the bags again this year thanks to Mark Fields (Esso general manager)," said Mr. Hunt.

He said even though people might not consider Bermuda, with its wealthy reputation, a place where children are in need, he said that was the case for some families.

Women of Vision's Ruth Forster agreed: "There are parents doing two or three jobs because they are struggling to survive and it is their children we are reaching out to."

With Esso Bermuda acting as sponsor, World Vision co-ordinating, it is Women of Vision which is the "hands and feet" who identify the charities that can best find the children most in need.

This year those included Pride Bermuda, Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Family Centre.

Esme Williams, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, said her organisation had identified 40 families to distribute the bags too. And even though the bags are being delivered slightly late this year because of a hold up on the docks when the bags arrived form the US, she said: "The parents said they don't mind the wait, their children really need the bags and they are thankful."

Esso Bermuda's fuel marketing specialist Michele Bean said the company was proud to have stepped into the breach left by the loss of former company sponsorship. She said: "Every year Esso likes to sponsor charities and we feel that helping children is a worthy project."

Mr. Hunt added that World Vision was thankful for the help Bermudians have shown for its worldwide efforts over the past 50 years and was pleased to be able to give back to the island by helping its own less well-off children.